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Did you know that this month is ‘Scam Awareness Month?’ Scam Awareness Month is all about creating a network of confident, alert, consumers who are ready, willing and able to spot scams. So efforts throughout July are important as they will help spread the message that scams can be tackled if we all take a bit of time to spot the signs and share what we’ve learnt with our peers and others within the industry.

So at Yellow Oak Inventories we’ve covered why it’s important for a landlord and a letting agent to have a thorough and detailed inventory in place, but why is it important for a tenant? And (as a tenant) what should you be looking out for? Well at Yellow Oak Inventories we are here to protect all parties involved in the lettings process, therefore we have constructed the following inventory tips for tenants to provide extra

There is an ongoing debate between landlords, agents and inventory clerks to whether words or video are better, when conducting an inventory. Did you know that adjudicators actually prefer words to video in dispute cases? Why?! Well firstly, statements issued by both the TDS and MyDeposits make it very clear that written evidence (in the form of a detailed inventory and check out report) is still paramount to allow adjudicators to give a fair judgement.

Did you know that the proportion of properties bought by landlords with a sitting tenant has increased four-fold since 2008? Following statistics, recently released by agency group Countrywide, after analysing over 65,000 rental properties they revealed that last year some 11% of all rental properties that were bought by an investor came with a sitting tenant in the mix. London has come up on top, where the proportion of landlord purchases with a sitting tenant

At Yellow Oak Inventories we always strive to keep you in the loop and fully informed on all the latest legislation changes, which are relevant to you as a landlord in England or Wales. However, we also acknowledge that there are some great websites out there who also provide great content; therefore we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce them to you. Property Tribes – www.propertytribes.com – ‘None of us is smart as all

With so many more people renting rather than buying nowadays – especially in London – it’s important that landlords, tenants and property inventory providers work together closely to ensure that everything runs smoothly, both when a tenant moves into and out of a property.

The main point of a check out inventory is to compare the original signed inventory – taken out when the tenant first moved into the property in question – with the current condition of the property. Check outs take place at the end of the tenancy, and normally occur with the vacating tenant present.

What is assessed during an inspection?

It’s often the littlest things that count during a check out inspection. Did you know that 80% of the costs caused at check out are a result of poor cleanliness?

The condition of the furniture is checked, as are curtain rods and blinds to ensure that they are working correctly. Domestic appliances need to be checked to ensure that they still have electrical power, while the batteries in smoke/heat and carbon monoxide alarms are also tested.

The inventory check out also looks for damage and the cleanliness of:

Carpets and rugs

Walls

Bathroom furniture

The kitchen

Windows (exterior and interior)

Tidiness of garden (if applicable)

What else does a Check Out involve?

As well as the inventory, check outs normally include a host of other occurrences. Here at Yellow Oak Inventories LTD, for instance, we take full-colour digital photographs of every room in the property, in addition to photos of any specific damage, should there be any.

All being well, at the conclusion of the inspection, the keys will be collected from the outgoing tenant. With all of the above said, a tenant moving out can be a trying and stressful time for both tenant and landlord, even if no great problems occur with the check out inspection.

Thankfully, Yellow Oak Inventories LTD is here to assist with all of your property inventory needs. Our experienced and efficient clerks can assist with everything from check in inventories to check out inventories, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.